You're out of cash and you haven't even thought of the perfect gift for your sweetie. And valentines is only three days away. What to do... what to do... Suddenly, you feel a slight tug on your shirt. You turn around and see your muse handing you a pen and a piece of perfumed paper. A letter? nah... It has to be something special. Something, creative. Something guaranteed to pull her heart strings. And then you had an idea (insert, lightbulb). "Why don't I write her a love poem?"

Of course, anyone who went past first grade can write. Anyone who made it through 3rd grade can create rhymes out of words (coherent or otherwise). But not anyone can write a poem that's guaranteed to put him a place in the hall of fame of the literary world. But then again, anyone who can read and write CAN write a poem.

Easier said than done? Not exactly. But I've seen those who have attempted to make it to the ranks of Pablo Neruda and Khalil Gibran. A few were exceptional, some where passable. But others.... let's not go there...

I'm not exactly a pro when it comes to poetry and fiction writing. But perhaps I can shed some light on this department with a couple of things to avoid when making a love poem. 

*mentioning the word LOVE anywhere in your poem most especially in your title. Apart from it makes the whole poem a little, redundant, it states the OBVIOUS. Ever heard of "show, don't tell" fellas?

*overload your poem with high-falluting jargons. Your aim is to impress your girl, not give her a major headache on valentines day.

*put cliches on your poems. Trust me, you hate to see her gag.

*use rhymes. You're making a love poem, not a nursery rhyme or lyrics to Eminem's next hit. besides, rhyming sort of kills the effect if you put the wrong word in a poem, just because "thighs" rhymes with "eyes".

*make it suggestive. Save the sexual undertones for your literotica or your other literary pieces. For this one, I think she'd be more happy with something a litte less provocative.

*use too much adjectives and adverbs. keep the use of "beautiful", "lovely" and what have yous to a minimal. Think of the adjectives as something that costs about a thousand bucks each. Concretize your poems.

*make it too long. if possible, make it short and sweet. Stick to the point, adding only the most unique details to your poem. I fell asleep once reading one of Shakespeare's sonnets back in 5th grade. You wouldn't want her falling asleep while reading yours too, right?

*make a Picasso out of your poem. avoid putting abstract words like "happiness", "love", "beauty" in your poem. If you wish to express your happiness for having such a wonderful girl like her, try to remember the best moments you had with her. And I am not talking about whatever the hell goes on under the sheets. I'm talking about those warm-and-fuzzy moments you had with her, like the first time you saw her. And try to remember the details as well. Did you see the sunlight bounce on her hair as she walked past you on the corridors? Did you smell her sweet perfume? Did you hear angels sing when she said hi? Oh, and one more thing research these terms: hyperbole, figures of speech, synesthesia if you have time. Trust me, it will come in handy when you're making a poem for that special someone.

*forget to make a draft on your poem. and make sure to proof read before you give her your final copy. Typing it, as well, saves you alot of trouble (and paper) but if you want to make it more personal and spontaneous (and if your handwriting does not resemble chicken scratchings), a handwritten poem will do. Just do her a favor and make a draft first. It's bad enough that she can't read what you're writing.